Does lion's mane really work for your brain?
Lion's mane shows cautiously positive signals for attention and working memory in small studies, but the evidence is still too thin to rely on. Until larger studies are available, you can safely try it as a capsule or powder, but do not expect a dramatic effect.
Two small studies in healthy young adults found improvements on cognitive tasks after a single dose of lion's mane. In a study of 41 participants, people responded faster on an attention task (Stroop) than after placebo. A second study found improved working memory, complex attention and reaction time 2 hours after taking 1 gram of extract. These are preliminary signals, not proof that the supplement works for everyone.
In older adults and people with mild memory problems, the picture is mixed. A systematic review of ten intervention studies found inconsistent results. There is only one small double-blind study in people with mild cognitive impairment that showed a temporary improvement, but it has not yet been confirmed by other research. There are also signals from three small human trials suggesting that cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease may be slowed somewhat, but those studies are too small and too few to justify firm conclusions.
The active compounds in lion's mane, erinacines and hericenones, stimulate the production of nerve growth factor in cell and animal research, and have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Whether those effects occur just as strongly in humans has not yet been sufficiently studied. Animal results do not automatically translate to humans.
On safety: powders or capsules appear to be safe and are relatively inexpensive. However, one case of a severe allergic reaction has been reported after eating fresh lion's mane. If you have a mushroom allergy, discuss this with your doctor. Moreover, cognitive supplements are not assessed in advance by regulators, and the marketing claims run far ahead of what science has demonstrated so far.
Based on two small RCTs in healthy young adults, one small RCT in people with mild cognitive impairment, a systematic review of 34 human studies (of which 10 were intervention studies), a narrative review of 3 human trials and 13 animal models, and mechanistic cell and animal research. No large independent RCTs are available.
Is magnesium L-threonate better for your brain?
MgT has preliminary indications that it raises brain magnesium more effectively and may support cognition, but the human evidence is still too limited for firm recommendations. The initial results are cautiously positive, particularly in older adults with cognitive complaints.
Do ketone drinks do anything for your brain or performance?
For people with memory complaints the early signals are cautiously positive, but the studies are small and not conclusive. As a healthy athlete or average person, you have too little to go on to use ketone drinks with confidence.
What does excess weight do to your brain in the long run?
Excess weight harms your brain in multiple ways at once: less brain tissue, weaker connections and a higher risk of dementia. Exercise combined with diet appears to be able to partly reverse this, so losing weight is good for your brain too.
Is reading every day good for your brain in the long run?
Daily reading is associated with a lower risk of dementia and greater cognitive resilience in later life. Whether reading itself causes that protection or is a sign of pre-existing brain fitness has not yet been fully resolved, but there is enough reason to simply start or continue.
Does a low dose of lithium help protect the ageing brain?
There are preliminary indications that low doses of lithium may offer brain protection, but the evidence is still too thin and the risks are real enough that lithium should only be used under medical supervision.
Does methylene blue really work for your energy and brain?
Do not take this as a supplement. Methylene blue is a registered medicine and industrial dye, not a food, and not authorised as an EU supplement. For energy or brain function in healthy people there is no evidence, and it can be dangerous: it interacts severely with antidepressants (serotonin syndrome) and is risky with a G6PD deficiency.